damsels after the cycle???

[scotty]

hi everyone.....i just set up a 75 gallon with 80 pounds ls and lr. my lfs sold me 6 yellowtail damsels to cycle it and i've had them 2 days now.....i asked the lfs what i do with them once i am cycled because i was wanting an aggressive setup including a lionfish...they said just leave them in and the lion will eat them....well, i cannot do this...they have grown on me and i am considering keeping them....what have you all done with them when cycling this way, and what are some good choices in addition to these fish?
thanks
scott

 

[iceburger]

net them out, take them back to the LFS for store credit....dont flush the little fellas tho....or i'm sure there are people on here who would take them

 

[bdhough]

Some may die in your cycle anyways.....

 

[newreefers]

If you can return them do so. finish your cycle with a dead shrimp. damsels become a pain in the *** after the cycle is over. Not to mention they probably don't appreciate the mass amonia in the tank.

 

[robchuck]

That advice is sick & lazy. Whatever you do, please do not flush damsels down the toilet. Look how well they can live through cycles, now imagine them surviving in raw sewage for several hours while dieing a horrible and smelly death. Please take the time to return the damsels to a LFS, or in the worst case, donate them to someone who is beginning to cycle their tank. RockinAR, please don't view this as a flame, but as criticism to the idea of flushing damsels down the toilet.

 

[buzz]

I would never advocate killing any fish as a means to getting it out of your tank.
Damsels are very difficult to catch...they hide well, and are fast as lightning. It may take you a little while to do it, but I would take them back to the LFS if at all possible...
If you are considering keeping them, why not get a small second tank to put them in once the cycle is finished?
Also, by the time your cycle is finished, you may not have 6 remaining...to avoid that, do as suggested above and go with the raw shrimp method.

 

[benj420]

Sounds to me like a good reason to start another tank. I think mine will end up being perpetual tank starters. I do have to agree with the others though that they are mean little buggers. I won't flush mine (unless they've expired), but they won't ever share a tank with any non-damsel.